Hamline University, University of St. Thomas, and Concordia University-St. Paul
Hamline, St. Thomas, and Concordia each have innovative programs to recruit, train and retain teachers of color and teachers in urban and urban-like settings. These programs all rely on state funding. The three private universities saw advantages in working together to request funding for their complementary efforts.
Exceptional results
Our lobbying team helped the universities secure more than $9 million in six consecutive budget cycles since 1999. Notably, their state funding successes in recent years came during state budget crises, when the universities anticipated that they might receive no funding. We also staved off recommendations by two different governors to eliminate program funding. In addition, through effective reputation management efforts, we took the universities’ programs from a situation of needing to plead their case for funding every year to a point where education leaders of both political parties recognize them as a worthy ongoing investment.